Baby it’s cold outside

Tomorrow, the wind chill is forecast to dip below -30°F in my neck of the woods. When it gets this cold, the first thing I do is count my many blessings that include a warm house and a well-stocked pantry. The second thing I do is set out to prepare my favorite warming foods to help combat the frigid temperatures and howling winds. My go-to beverage is a steaming cup of hot cocoa, to which I add a few drops of peppermint extract (and a candy cane during the holiday season).

After wrapping my hands around the warm mug and taking a few sips I’m ready to tackle breakfast, which will be a bowl of oatmeal. This may not be the most exciting morning meal, but there is just something about hot cereal that comforts me on a wintry morning. I might mix in a few nuts for crunch and some maple syrup for sweetness, but otherwise I keep it pretty simple.

Moving on to lunch, soup is definitely on the menu, and most likely it will be a green chicken chili similar to this one from Leite’s Culinaria (pictured above). I never seem to fancy this during warmer weather, even though I will happily consume a more traditional chili year-round. I think I am drawn to this because I can use the canned tomatillos and frozen poblano or Anaheim chiles from my garden for this soup, which remind me of the glorious long summer days that will eventually arrive.

The dinner meal will involve firing up the oven to add additional warmth to the kitchen. It might be a sheet pan full of roasted vegetables with a chimichurri or gremolata, because pounding herbs in a mortar and pestle will get my heart pumping and blood flowing. Roast meats are also an option, although I try to limit meat to one meal per day. If I do go the meat route, sausages nestled with carrots or potatoes are often on the menu, or perhaps a pork tenderloin with apples. A mustardy sauce might accompany these dishes because it has a nice warming bite.

What are your favorite or go-to dishes on a cold winter’s day? Hearty soups or stews, roasts, mulled cider or wine? I’d love to hear what you make to give me inspiration because there will be many more of these days to come around here.